Conveying apparatus



April 25, 1961 R. H. GOODRICH CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed April 15, 1957 FIG. 3.

FIG. 2.

INVENTOR. Ross H. GOODRICH United States Patent CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Apr. 15, 1957, Ser. No. 652,335

'5 Claims. (Cl. 198-213) My invention relates to conveying apparatus and more particularly to an elongated rotatable auger having a skirted portion at the outer periphery of an elongated spiral material conveying flight which skirted portion extends angularly outward from the flight and toward the free end of the auger. I

The use of an auger having a spiral material conveying flight rigidly secured to a central rotatable shaft for drilling earth and other materials is well known in the art. Heretofore, however, it has been customary for some of such augers to provide the outer edge of the spiral flight with a lip which extends outwardly from the flight to provide a concave structure having its open side facing the open end of the hole. The use of such concave structures was considered desirable as it was generally believed to provide a greater material conveying capacity, increase the life of the auger, and increase the stability of the drilling operation. I have found that concave flights actually decrease the amount of material conveyed and that a convex flight will convey a greater amount of material than either a concave or a flat spiral flight. I am also aware of some prior augers which may be considered as being slightly convex, however all of such augers have only resulted as a consequence of the particular method employed for. forming the spiral flight, such as by rollers which are provided with 213 to 4 draft to permit the withdrawal of the forming rollers. Such a small convex angle does not provide a sufficiently convex flight to obtain any substantial increase in material being conveyed than a flat spiral flight provides.

Accordingly one object of my invention is to provide new and improved conveyingapparatus having at least one convex elongated spiral material conveyor flight.

Another object of my invention is to provide new and improved conveying apparatus having a plurality of elongated spiral material conveyorflights. I

Another-object of my invention is to provide new and improved conveying apparatus comprising at least one elongated spiralmaterial conveyor flight with a skirt portion extending forwardly at a substantial acute angle from the outer periphery of the conveyor flight.

A specific objectiof my invention is to provide new andimproved conveying apparatus comprising an elongated spiral material c'onveyorflight'with a skirt portion extending at a substantial acute angle forwardly from the periphery of the conveyor flight.

Still another specific object of my invention is to provide new and improved conveying apparatus having an elongated spiral material conveyor'flight with a skirt portion inclining at a 45 angle forwardly from the periphery of the conveyor flight.

Still another specific objectof my invention is to provide new and improved conveying apparatus having at least one elongated spiral flight disposed along a rotatable shaft and having a skirt portion extending angularly forwardly at a substantial acute angle with respect thereto.

These and other objects of my invention will become more apparent when taken in conjunction with the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof and the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a drilled hole showing an earth auger in side elevation located therein, which anger is provided with a material conveyor flight constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention.

Figure 2. is a cross sectional view of a portion of the auger and hole as shown in Figure 1 taken substantially along the lines 22 thereof.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of another auger constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the auger shown in Figure 3 taken substantially along the lines 4-4 thereof.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 it will be noted that an earth auger having a material conveyor flight constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention comprises a central elongated tubular shaft 2 which is rotatable in any suitable manner such as by having its upper end connected to a drive means (not shown) in any suitable manner, such as by means of rotatable chuck 4. As shown, an elongated cutter head 6 is removably secured to the lower end of the shaft 2 in any suitable manner such as by means of a bolt 8 so as to extend axially outwardly therefrom. The cutter head 6 is provided with a plurality of removable, circumferentially and longitudinally spaced cutters 10 which extend outwardly therefrom. A support 12 is also rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft 2, in any suitable manner such as by being welded thereto, so as to extend radially outwardly therefrom laterally beyond the cutter head 6 and to which a plurality of radially spaced cutters 14 are removably secured, in any suitable manner, to extend downwardly therefrom approximately parallel to the shaft 2.

An elongated spiral flight 20 is rigidly secured to the shaft 2 in any suitable manner, such as by welding the inner edge of the flight 20 to the outer surface of the shaft 2, to provide a'continuous inclined'plane for conveying loose material axially upwmdly along the shaft 2 from its lower end. As shown, the lowermost portion 22 of the flight 20 extends radially outwardly from the shaft 2, approximately diametrically opposite the support 12 to which a plurality of radially spaced, downwardly extending cutters 24 are removably secured in any suitable manner. Although the flight 20 may be disposed in anysuitable manner around the shaft 2, as shown, the flight 20 extends in a counterclockwise direction around the shaft 2 from the cutter supporting end. Accordingly, in order that material may be conveyed along the flight 20 the shaft 2 is rotated in a clockwise direction with reference-to the cutter supporting end, and the various cutters, 10, 14 and 24 are disposed to cut upon such clockwise movement. The flight 20 may also be disposed longitudinally as desired with relation to shaft 2, however, a constant pitch spiral, as shown, is preferable. Further, the shaft 2, support 12, and flight 20 may be of any suitable material having sufficient structural strength and, for my purposes, a ferrous alloy material is preferred to permit assembly of the auger by welding.

The structure as heretofore defined is well known in the art and further description thereof is not believed to be necessary. With such structure movement of the shaft 2 downwardly while rotating clockwise causes the cutters It) to initially cut a lead hole 26 below the shaft 2 ahead of the cutters 14 and 24. Further downward movement of the shaft 2 causes the cutters 14 and 24 to cut a hole of a greater diameter than the hole 26. Continued downward movement of the shaft 2 will cause the loose drilled material, such as dirt, to be engaged by the lowermost portion 22 of the flight so that the loose material may be conveyed along the flight 20 to the upper end of the shaft 2.

Heretofore the loose material has been considered as being merely conveyed along the flight 20, so that the inclined plane portion of the flight 20 was of a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the drilled hole or, in the case of a flat spiral flight, equal to the diameter of the drilled hole. I have discovered, however, that the conveying of the material along the flight 20 is primarily accomplished by the accumulation of loose material in a pile adjacent the edge of the drilled hole. As is well known, loose material which is accumulated in a pile forms a natural angle of repose with relation to the surface upon which it is supported which determines the shape of the pile. The height of the piled material is dependent upon the characteristics of the material; however, loose material which is accumulated between the flat portion of a flight and the sidewall of a hole extending substantially perpendicular to the flat portion forms a pile having a triangular cross sectional area (see area B, Figure 2). Forming a lip on a conveyor flight which extends upwardly in the direction the material is moved (i.e., the concave type of flight) eliminates a portion of the triangular cross sectional area B from retaining material so that less material is conveyed than by a flat flight.

in order to accomplish the purposes of my invention the flight 20 is provided with a skirt portion which extends angularly laterally outwardly and forwardly from the outer periphery of the flight 20 toward the free end of the shaft 2 so that the free edge of the skirt portion 30 is located radially outwardly of the shaft 2 a greater distance than the free end of the support 12. With such structure the skirt portion 30 determines the diameter of the hole 32 which is drilled by the auger. As can be appreciated the skirt portion 30 may be formed integral with the flight 20 or as a separate part and rigidly secured to the outer periphery of the flight 20 in any suitable manner, such as by welding. Further the skirt portion may be either flat or arcuate in cross section. By providing the skirt portion 30 an area is formed between the skirt portion 30 and the side of the drilled hole 32 which is in the form of an inverted right triangle with the apex thereof being defined by the free end of the skirt portion 30 and the side of hole 32, and with the base thereof being defined by the plane of the flight 20. For the purpose of illustrating such a cross sectional area the plane of the flight 20 forming the base of such a-triangle has been shown by an imaginary line 4-0 in Figure 2 and the inverted triangular area designated by the letter A. When the area A is filled with dirt it will be noted that the flight 20 adjacent thereto and the base of the triangular area A form a plane in the same manner as a flat spiral flight. Accordingly, another pile of material having a cross sectional area B in the form of an upright right triangle will be formed'above the area A with the base of the triangular areas A and B being coincident. Inasmuch as the area B also represents the cross sectional area of the material which would be conveyed by a flat spiral flight the skirted flight 20 of my construction obviously conveys an additional amount of material which has a cross sectional area A.

tion 30 preferably extends at an angle of 45 with relation to the side of the hole 32. Thus, the triangular area A can be considered as a 45 right triangle. Since the base '40 of each of the 45 right triangles is common the area A equals the area B, and the cross sectional area of the material conveyed by a conveyor flight of my construction is substantially twice that of a flat flight. Since the total length of each type of conveyor flight for a given installation is equal, a conveyor flight of my construction will convey substantially twice the volume of loose material than that conveyed by a flat flight. In view of the fact that a concave flight structure conveys less material than a flat flight, a conveyor of my construction will convey more material than a similar concave flight.

As indicated the skirt portion 30 may make various angles with relation to the side of the hole 32. However, as can be appreciated, due to variations in the loose materials to be conveyed, various angles of repose of the loose material may be encountered and, accordingly, the angle of the skirt portion 3i) may be altered to convey the greatest amount of material. Thus, a skirt portion 33 extending at a small angle will not convey much additional material while a skirt portion 30 extending approximately parallel to the side of the hole 32 will not retain any material between the skirt portion 30 and the side of the hole 32. Accordingly, the best angle for the skirt portion 30 will be dependent upon the particular material being conveyed. Further, although I have shown a vertical transportation of loose material it is to be realized that the principles of my invention are also applicable to angular and horizontal transportation of loose material. Also if desired the skirt portion 30 may be eliminated on the upper convolutions of the flight 20.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate another embodiment of my invention upon an anger for drilling a smaller diameter hole. In this embodiment an elongated solid shaft 2' is provided having its upper end supported for rotational movement in any suitable manner such as by a chuck 4. As shown, a suitable cutter 6 having a pair of downwardly extending spaced fingers is secured to the lower end of the shaft 2' in any suitable manner as is well known in the art. In view of the fact that this embodiment is for the purpose of drilling smaller diameter holes the elongated spiral flight 20 as heretofore described can not be employed. As shown, a pair of elongated spiral flights 50 are formed integrally with the shaft 2 so as to extend laterally outwardly therefrom around the outer periphery of the shaft 2. The flights 50 are also formed to extend angula'rly laterally outwardly from the shaft 2' in the same manner as the skirt portion 30 extends with relation to the flight 20' as heretofore described. Thus, as more clearly shown in Figure 4 each of the flights 50 is provided with an upper edge 52 which extends laterally outwardly and angularly downwardly with relation to the portion of the shaft 2' adjacent thereto. In view of the relatively small length of the upper edge 52, each of the flights 50 have been provided with a suitable lower edge 54 to provide sufficient strength to each of the flights 50. If necessary for strength considerations of the flights 50, each flight 50 may be provided with an outer cord 56 connecting the edges 52 and 54, which'cord 56 extends parallel to the outer surface of the shaft 2.

The angle that the upper edges 52 of the flights 53 make with the outer surface of the shaft 2' is determined by the same considerations that determine the angle ("f the skirt portion 30 heretofore described. In Figure 4, an imaginary line 40' has been shown which extends perpendicularly outwardly from the shaft 2 from the point where the edge 52 engages the shaft 2'. Line 40' divides the area above the edge 52 into two areas A and B which are similar in form to the areas A and B previously described. The considerations regarding the formation of the areas A and B are similar to those previously described with relation to areas A and B. It will be noted, however, that the upper edge 52 of the flights 50 extend angularly outwardly from the shaft 2 at an angle less than 45 to illustrate that smaller angles are satisfactory for my purposes to obtain increased material conveying capacity. With such oonstructio-n the area V A is smaller than the area A previously described and does not form a 45 right triangle. If desired, however, a 45 angle for the upper edge 52 may be employed in which event the area A would be similar to the area A as heretofore described and generally equal to the area B in the same manner as heretofore described.

Figures 3 and 4 also i-llustrate that with smaller diameter augers, a plurality of elongated spiral flights 50 may be provided in the periphery of the shaft 2 in a manner as is well known in the art. As before, a constant pitch spiral is provided for the flights 50, although a variable pitch spiral could be provided if desired.

In a number of places in the preceding description of applicants structure where it states that the skirt portion 30 extends laterally outwardly from the outer periphery of the flight 20 or by some other similar wording, it is to be understood that the referred to periphery is that portion of the flight 20 which is laterally outermost on the relatively flat upper material conveying surface or operating face of the flight 20 which referred to periphery corresponds in general to the laterally outermost portion of the normal conveying surface or operating face on the flight of a conventional type auger.

Having described preferred embodiments of my invention in accordance with the Patent Statutes, it is to be realized that modifications thereof may be made without departing from the broad spirit of my invention. Accordingly, it is respectfully requested that my invention be interpreted as broadly as possible and as limited only by the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. Conveying apparatus comprising, an elongated member having one of its end's adapted to be engaged to cause rotation of said member, an elongated spiral conveyor having a flight portion rigidly secured to said member for conveying material towards said one end, said flight portion extending laterally outwardly from and longitudinally along said member, and said spiral conveyor having a continuous material conveying skirt portion extending laterally outwardly from the outer edge of said flight portion at an acute angle for at least the greater portion of the length of said spiral conveyor with the free edge thereof extending towards the other end of said member.

2. Conveying apparatus comprising, an elongated member having one of its ends adapted to be engaged to cause notation of said member, an elongated spiral conveyor having a flight portion rigidly secured to said member for conveying material towards said one end, said flight portion extending laterally outwardly from and longitudinally along said member, and said spiral conveyor having a continuous material conveying skirt portion extending laterally outwardly from the outer edge of said flight portion at an angle of about 45 for at least the greater portion of the length of said spiral conveyor with the free edge thereof extending towards the other end of said member.

3. Conveying apparatus comprising, an elongated memher having one of its ends adapted tobe engaged to cause rotation of said member, an elongated spiral conveyor having a flight portion rigidly secured to said member for conveying material towards said one end, said flight portion extending laterally outwardly from and longitudinally along said member, and said spiral conveyor having a continuous material conveying skirt portion extending laterally outwardly from the outer edge of said flight portion at an acute angle from adjacent the other end of said member for at least the greater portion of the length of said spiral conveyor with the free edge thereof extending towards said other end of said member.

4. Conveying apparatus comprising, an elongated spiral flight portion having a continuous material conveying skirt portion extending laterally outwardly from the outer edge of said flight portion at an acute angle for at least the greater portion of the length of said spiral conveyor with the free edge thereof spaced from said flight portion in a direction opposite that in which material is transported by' said flight portion.

5. Conveying apparatus comprising, an elongated member having one of its ends adapted to be engaged to cause rotation of said member, an elongated spiral conveyor having a flight portion secured to said member for conveying material towards said one end, said flight portion extending laterally outwardly from and longitudinally along said member, and said spiral conveyor having an elongated material conveying skirt portion extending outwardly from the outer edge of said flight portion at an acute angle with the free edge thereof extending towards the other end of said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,720,341 Nikolish July 9, 1929 1,789,399 Bartenbach Jan. 20, 1931 1,867,245 Bailey July 12, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,083,326 France June 23, 1954 

